The United Nations has asked Japan for a small aircraft to be at its disposal for transport assistance in Iraq, the U.N. deputy special representative for Iraq has said.

"One small plane of 20 seats at full-time disposal of the U.N. in Iraq would do miracles, because we would be able to quickly move without having to wait days for the coalition," Staffan de Mistura said after talks with Japanese officials Monday in Tokyo.

The U.N. has no air transport capacity of its own in Iraq, a situation de Mistura called "very serious."

He said the U.N. relies on the United States and other coalition allies to airlift U.N. personnel. But the availability of seats and flights is limited.

"It would help the Japan flag to fly high with the U.N. at the time when we need to maintain some type of increased presence of the U.N.," he said of hopes to achieve a more "proactive" approach for the U.N. mission in Iraq.

Details of the request, including the type of aircraft and format of assistance, have yet to be discussed. De Mistura said the United Nations has high hopes in connection with Japan, whose Air Self-Defense Force is involved in providing air transport support to the coalition in Iraq.

If the U.N. request is met, the plane will carry the Japanese flag and the U.N. symbol, de Mistura said.